[RPG] Does the Sickening Radiance spell require the target to use their movement for the spell to deal damage

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I just picked up the spell Sickening Radiance (XGtE, p. 164) and had a chance to try it out last session. The wording has caused some confusion and a disagreement between myself and my DM. The spell states:

When a creature moves into the spell's area for the first time on a turn or starts its turn there, that creature must succeed on a Constitution saving throw or take 4d10 radiant damage […]

We were fighting multiple vampires. I cast Sickening Radiance on the enemy group. DM immediately rules that due to the language of the spell, they are not affected by it, since they "haven't started their turn in it" and they "didn't move into it". Okay, fair enough. They'll start their turn there, so I'm not concerned.

They start their turn within it and are dealt the damage. They then, logically, move out of the spell, but stand five feet out of it. Their turn ends, and my turn begins. I cast Eldritch Blast twice along with the Invocation Repelling Blast to push two of them 10 feet, which shoves them into the spell's effect area. The DM moves onto the next person; I gently remind him that they need to make Constitution saves for Sickening Radiance.

He refuses, stating that the language of Sickening Radiance uses "moves", not "pushed", and therefore is only triggered by the target using their movement, not just any movement into it. I obviously disagree, and argue that it just says "moves into", which they did, as a result of my Eldritch Blast.

Obviously DM fiat and all that, so if he says it doesn't work, it doesn't work. But I'm still curious about a rules based answer to this, as it seems like a very strict (and likely incorrect) reading.

Does Sickening Radiance require the target to use their movement (i.e. not be forcibly moved) for the spell to deal damage?

Best Answer

The "Opportunity Attacks" section of the PHB/basic rules states (emphasis mine):

You also don‘t provoke an opportunity attack when you teleport or when someone or something moves you without using your movement, action, or reaction.

There is linguistic precedent in the rule that the word "move" does not expressly refer to the voluntary use of one's own Speed.

In the absence of specific wording to make sickening radiance an exception to the general ruling of nearly identically worded spells, the overwhelming likelihood is that it behaves like all the other spells described in the April 2016 Sage Advice rules answers column:

Does moonbeam deal damage when you cast it? What about when its effect moves onto a creature?

The answer to both questions is no. Here’s some elaboration on that answer.

Some spells and other game features create an area of effect that does something when a creature enters that area for the first time on a turn or when a creature starts its turn in that area. The turn you cast such a spell, you’re primarily setting up hurt for your foes on later turns. Moonbeam, for example, creates a beam of light that can damage a creature who enters the beam or who starts its turn in the beam.

[...]

Reading the description of any of those spells, you might wonder whether a creature is considered to be entering the spell’s area of effect if the area is created on the creature’s space. And if the area of effect can be moved—as the beam of moonbeam can—does moving it into a creature’s space count as the creature entering the area? Our design intent for such spells is this: a creature enters the area of effect when the creature passes into it. Creating the area of effect on the creature or moving it onto the creature doesn’t count. If the creature is still in the area at the start of its turn, it is subjected to the area’s effect.

Entering such an area of effect needn’t be voluntary, unless a spell says otherwise. You can, therefore, hurl a creature into the area with a spell like thunderwave. We consider that clever play, not an imbalance, so hurl away! Keep in mind, however, that a creature is subjected to such an area of effect only the first time it enters the area on a turn. You can’t move a creature in and out of it to damage it over and over again on the same turn.

In summary, a spell like moonbeam affects a creature when the creature passes into the spell’s area of effect and when the creature starts its turn there. You’re essentially creating a hazard on the battlefield.

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